Notes: As injuries to North Carolina's upperclassmen mounted in the preseason, the Tar Heel coaching realized they were going to have to make a tough, but necessary, decision. Like it or not, the 2011 season would ride on the backs of the team's talented but unproven freshmen recruiting class.

A 7-2 record later, and it's so far, so good.

“We were going to put them in a position where it was sink or swim,” says assistant coach Pat Myers, North Carolina's offensive coordinator of his freshmen. “And they've lived up to expectations. We've needed them, and if they weren't performing we wouldn't be in a position to feel we could compete with anyone in the country.”

Inside Lacrosse anointed the Tar Heel frosh the No. 1 recruiting class in their group for the class of 2010-2011, with 10 players listed in the Power 100 (see notes above).

West Islip (N.Y.) attackman Nicky Galasso, Inside Lacrosse's No. 1 freshman recruit for the 2011 season, headlined the group. Galasso started the season rotating in from the midfield, but has since solidified a starting spot on the attack,leading the team with 36 points, split between 16 goals and 20 assists (sophomore Marcus Holman has excelled in the midfield rotation spot instead).

“Nicky takes a snapshot of the field before he gets the ball,” says Myers. “He knows where guys are, he knows, even when he's dodging and rolling back, where the guys are going to be as the play develops. He sees five seconds into the future.” Myers also praised Galasso's off-field work —a strict weight training regimen, work with a nutritionist— with the frosh attackman's early success.

The big surprise, however, has been North Carolina's midfield play. Injuries to Cam Wood, Greg McBride and Jeff Muscatello, plus the Chris Layne's transfer to Loyola, forced several of the young frosh middies into the lineup.

“We told them they would be playing, and to go out there and, when they make mistakes, play through the mistakes and learn from them,” says Myers. “And they've done well. These are great people and wonderful students.”

Johns Hopkins

Notes: Johns Hopkins' Freshman Class of 2011 was expected to complement the team's talented sophomore group. So far, so good in that respect, with at least five freshmen earning major minutes far for Johns Hopkins this year.

Several of those contributors were heralded Power 100 recruits. Rob Guida, a talented offensive player from New Jersey, slipped under IL's radar and right into Johns Hopkins' starting midfield lineup.

Through eight games, Guida has emerged as the freshman classe's top scorer with eight goals and one assist. His quick feet and speed complements the power game of John Ranagan and John Greeley on the first midfield.

“The thing that it impresses me the most is how hard he practices every day,” says Bobby Benson, Johns Hopkins' offensive coordinator, of Guida. “Come Saturday's he's not intimidated. He knows what's expected of him, what his job is, and he does his best to go out and do his job to the best of his ability. He's a tough kid. He's not the biggest one in the world, but he's done a good job, and he's working hard.”

Though more heralded, fellow starter, defenseman Jack Reilly, has been equally impressive for the Blue Jays. In the past two games he's limited both JoJo Marasco and Shamel Bratton, and has grown leaps and bounds as a frosh in Johns Hopkins' tough offensive scheme.

“[Reilly] is a tremendous young athlete that has a lot to learn, but a tremendous athlete and a very coachable young man,” says Pietramala. “I'm watching Jack Reilly grow right in front of my eyes.

St. John's

Notes: With around 25 underclassmen on their roster, the Red Storm knew they would be trotting out some youngsters on the field this year. And, despite a tough 2-6 record, St. John's freshmen have excelled on the field.

Attack has been especially strong for St. John's, with freshmen Kevin Cernuto (27 points)and Kieran McArdle (21 points) leading the team in scoring through the first eight games.

“We've been making our living on guys that are late bloomers, guys who we see early that aren't on the top of the lists,” says head coach Jason Miller. “We just kind of hang in there, get them to decide on St. John's. WIth McArdle and Ceruto, they were having All-American years as seniors.”

Freshman midfielder Ryan Fitzgerald is third on the team in scoring, with 12 points.

RutgerS

2010 IL Recruiting Issue Rankings: N/A

Notes: Red-shirt freshman Scott Klimchak has been the Scarlet Knight's standout frosh in 2011, leading the team with 14 goals and 10 assists through eight games (5-3 record).

Notes: After struggling offensively early in the season, Duke put Jordan Wolf and Christian Walsh in to the starting attack lineup. The result? A combined 46 points from the freshman duo. Wolf is the dodger while Walsh works off-ball perfectly. On the defensive end, Chris Hipps, a Texas native, has started eight games on close defense. Luke Duprey is supporting C.J. Costabile at LSM, helping relieve the upperclassman as his face-off responsibilities have grown.

Syracuse

Notes: With so many juniors and seniors on their roster, the Orange frosh have seen just a handful of minutes this season. FOGO middie Ricky Buhr has contributed in his limited action, going 16-311 for 50% at the X. Scott Loy has also impressed in limited action.